[Magic_Mikki]

I was watching the Tyra Banks show the other day (I know.. guilty pleasure!) and the topic was The Teen Pregnancy Epidemic, and showed girls who want to become pregnant, already are pregnant, or already have babies. Tyra asked the girls why they want to be pregnant, or why they want to have babies. If you happened to see this episode, you'll know why I'm concerned.

I know there are a lot of teens out there that are trying to have a baby, but hearing some of their reasons even made my husband's jaw drop! (I had taped the episode and he watched it last night.) One 14 year old was asked why she wanted a baby so bad and she said "Because babies are so cute and cuddly and I will love it and I want a baby shower and you get lots of presents." WHHAATT?? For the presents? Come on. Tyra asked this same girl to give her a ballpark number about how much it would cost to support a baby per year. The girl said "Thousands" and Tyra asked her for a specific number, to which she replied, "$7,000??" The audience laughed, and I hope she realized how ridiculous she sounded. Another girl said, "Maybe $12,000?"

What do you guys think the reason for the rising teen pregnancy rate is? Is it poor education? Is it the government's teaching of "abstinence only"? (Government funds programs to teach only abstienence.) Or is it the portrayal of pregnant teens and other hot celebs in the media? Alaska's teen pregnancy rate is up 19% from last year... Does that have anything to do with Bristol Palin? Mississippi is now the nation's leader in teen pregnancy. Does that have anything to do with Jamie Lynn Spears?

What do you guys think? Any thoughts? Concerns? Comments? How should the problem be addressed?

[DivasMomma]

I think its the simple fact that the teens parents are too busy with their own lives. In turn the teens arent getting the love they need at home, so they are trying to make something that will love them and they can love back. Its not a HORRIBLE reason to want a baby, not really their fault, but the teens also dont think of this baby as something "real" Its almost make believe to them until the crying, diapers and night time feedings come into play


I wanted a baby for as long as i can remember. I remember being 8 or 9 and taking care of my baby dolls as if they were real. Thats all i ever wanted. Thank goodness I was with my bf for 5 yrs and he said how crazy I was. I probably would have gotten pregnant way sooner then 20 if that were the case.

I think that show Baby Borrowers needs to be on more often, maybe even done in schools. I had to take home one of those robot babies (really cried and such) but 2 days wasnt long enough for the ehaustion of a real baby to set it

[Samual]

I think it depends on where you live as well, the village where my parents live is very old fashioned as are the majority of villages in the area, so a good number of the people are married by 18 and start trying for a family straight away, it is considered odd if you aren't a parent by 25. For example at my old school in year 13 when the students are 17/18 there are quite a few already or planning to get engaged. Now at my new school I notice that alot of students of the same age are very immature, which I'm not used to from men and women of such an age, so that is very frustrating.

I know just as many what I consider bad older parents as I do teenage parents, so for that reason it doesn't concern me overly. Though it will probably interesting for me to see what happens where I live now as my top year students seem to be getting more immature by the day.

We don't have abstinence only education in schools here, but a parent can take their child out of school during any education on reproduction and sexual health. That being said though it has been found those taught only abstinence or no sex before marriage/silver ring thing, are less likely to use any protection and just as likely to have sex before marriage, so that is quite worrying on a health front.